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In this Issue
At the Metropolitan Council, there are several steps a
policy takes before the Council considers it for final action. I and my fellow
Council Members are most directly involved in the Council’s standing committees
that each review policies and programs specific to each of the four Council
divisions (Transportation, Environment, Community Development and Regional
Administration). But many items that come before these committees and the full
Council begin with our advisory committees.
The Council’s advisory committees are comprised of local
elected officials, representatives from partner organizations, members of the
public with expertise in specific areas, and people who represent specific
geographic areas. Specific groups that advise the Council vary in scope and meeting
regularity depending on whether the topic involves a project or an ongoing
issue area.
Advisory committees provide direct policy feedback to the
Council. Recent decisions regarding Thrive
MSP 2040, the Parks Equity Toolkit, light rail transit station design and
the 2017 fare increase proposal all went through at least one of our advisory committees
for feedback or recommendations. The Council is able to advance regionalism in
the metro area because each advisory committee has a balance of members that
seek to reflect the entire region, whether you live in downtown Minneapolis,
Rosemount or Lakeville. Having all voices at the table through public
officials, public members or subject matter experts enriches the policy
conversations at the committee level and ultimately at the Council meetings.
I began my policymaking tenure at the Council through the
advisory committee system. Before I was appointed to serve on the Council in
2011, I served on several Council-related committees and task forces, including
the Housing, Health, and Aging Task Force; the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority Advisory Committee; the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Re-Use Task
Force; the Minority Issues Advisory Committee; and the Livable Communities Act
Demonstration Account Advisory Committee.
Participating in advisory committees is a great way to represent
your community and influence public policy decisions. The Council is always
looking for bright, motivated, and passionate people to serve on our advisory
committees, and I encourage you to keep an eye out for upcoming vacancies you
might be interested in.
Learn more about our advisory committees’
work and vacancies.
The Metropolitan Council approved a first-of-its-kind pilot grant August 23, aimed at preserving affordable housing in the metro region.
Specifically, the grant is aimed at preserving manufactured home parks, which are sometimes referred to as “mobile home parks.” The Council will award nearly a quarter million dollars to the Maple Hill Estates Manufactured Home Park in the City of Corcoran. The $234,832 grant helps defray the cost of connecting to the regional wastewater system, which is necessary due to an aging on-site septic system the park currently relies on. In exchange for the funding, the manufactured home park commits to continue to operate as an manufactured home park and agrees to “no unreasonable lot rent increases to residents.”
The park is the second largest manufactured home parks in Hennepin County and makes up 78 percent of all of Corcoran’s affordable housing stock. Residents of color make up 40% of the park, compared to 12% in Corcoran.
“Just this week, we read in the news again how our region has the largest gap in the country between white people and people of color when it comes to home ownership. And overall, our region is facing a crisis when it comes to meeting our affordable housing needs,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff.
Read the entire press release.
You go to the Minnesota State Fair for the food, the farm animals, the rides and more! Getting to the fair on the bus is a fun tradition, too. Instead of driving, park your car for free and take a stress-free, non-stop, air-conditioned ride straight to the fairgrounds.
Take a State Fair Express bus and you’ll save on gas and parking costs. Plus, we’ll drop you off and pick you up right outside the gates.
Check out our website for additional information on our State Fair service.
Every e-newsletter, I
will ask a Council trivia question and the first two people who email the
correct answer, I'll treat them to coffee at their time
and place of choice in the district.
Trivia question: Name the seven counties in our metropolitan region.
Email answers to steven.chávez@metc.state.mn.us.
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